That morning, Nadira entered the Astra Group building again with a different feeling.
The building that had felt like an ordinary workplace for the past three years suddenly seemed unfamiliar. Maybe it was because her life had changed so much over the last two days.
She was married—to Arkana Pradipta. The man who was still her boss.
Nadira drew a deep breath before heading toward the elevators.
She had already put her wedding ring in her bag. As agreed, no one at the office could know about their relationship.
When the elevator doors opened on her floor, several coworkers immediately greeted her.
“Morning, Nadira.”
“Morning.”
“You look tired.”
“Didn’t get enough sleep?”
She gave them a faint smile, then hurried to her desk. Not long afterward, Arkana’s secretary arrived.
“Ms. Nadira, Mr. Arkana would like to see you in his office.”
Nadira’s heart beat a little faster. She stood and followed the secretary.
When she entered, Arkana was standing by the window with several documents in his hands.
Their eyes met. Only for a moment. Then Arkana turned his attention back to the documents.
“Sit.”
Nadira sat across from him. “Is there something I need to do?”
“The expansion report.”
“Didn’t I send it yesterday?”
“You did.”
“Then?”
Arkana set a folder in front of her. “Several sections need to be revised.”
Nadira opened it. Sure enough, several pages were covered in notes.
She looked up. “You really haven’t changed at all after getting married.”
Arkana stared at her impassively. “Was I supposed to change?”
“At least a little.”
“At the office, you’re still my subordinate.”
Nadira nodded. “Yes, sir.”
She picked up the folder and stood. But after she had taken only a few steps, Arkana said,
“Have you had breakfast?”
Nadira stopped. “Yes.”
Arkana looked at her. “You’re lying.”
Nadira frowned. “How do you know?”
“Because you’ve been holding your stomach this whole time.”
Nadira instinctively lowered her hand.
Arkana let out a soft sigh. “Go eat before you work on the report.”
“I can eat later.”
“Nadira.” His tone made her fall silent. “Don’t work on an empty stomach.”
Nadira stared at him for several seconds. It was a simple sentence. Yet for some reason, it sounded different coming from the Arkana she knew.
“Fine.”
She left the office. A few minutes later, a staff member delivered a meal to Nadira’s desk.
“Ms. Nadira, this is from Mr. Arkana.”
Nadira stared at the food container. “What did he say?”
“He said you have to finish it.”
Nadira fell silent. Inside the container was the kind of food she usually chose when she was busy working.
She had never told Arkana about that habit. Or perhaps he had been paying attention to her all this time.
Nadira looked at the CEO’s office door. For the first time, she realized something.
Arkana might not have changed into a gentler man. He had simply started showing a side of himself Nadira had never seen before.
The day went on as usual. In front of the employees, Arkana remained a cold and decisive boss. During the meeting, he even criticized Nadira’s presentation as usual.
But when a director blamed Nadira for the project delay, Arkana immediately cut in.
“That mistake isn’t her responsibility.”
Everyone fell silent.
Arkana closed the document. “The final decision was mine.”
Nadira stared at him. Once again, he had defended her without showing the slightest emotion.
After the meeting ended, Nadira followed him into the hallway.
“Why did you defend me?”
Arkana stopped. “Because you weren’t wrong.”
“That’s it?”
Arkana turned toward her. “Was there supposed to be another reason?”
Nadira didn’t answer.
Arkana walked away from her. But before entering the elevator, he stopped. “Don’t go home this afternoon.”
Nadira frowned. “Why?”
“We need to discuss something.”
“Here at the office?”
“No.”
The elevator doors opened. Arkana stepped inside and looked at her one more time. “Starting tonight, you’re moving into my house.” The elevator doors closed.
Nadira stood frozen.
Move in? To Arkana’s house?
She had only just started getting used to hiding their relationship at the office. Now she had to face a much bigger problem.
Living under the same roof as her own husband.
Nadira began to wonder whether one year would really be enough to get through this marriage without involving her feelings.